Claire Rafferty & Casey Stoney on Artificial Pitches

Artificial football pitches have been a hot topic for many years and now Chelsea and Arsenal ladies player weigh in. Claire Rafferty and Casey Stoney have made their disapproval know over the last couple of weeks with Rafferty even missing one of the Chelsea ladies matches over fear of injury.

Arsenal defender Casey Stoney says it would be better if Women’s Super League matches were only played on grass.

Liverpool Ladies currently play on an artificial surface at the Select Security Stadium in Widnes.

“I don’t think it’s right, especially if players have to miss out because of it,” Stoney said. “Ideally we’d play all our games on grass.”

She added: “I don’t think you have any 4G pitches in the men’s top league. It just puts people at risk, so it’s not ideal.”

Sunderland’s Lucy Staniforth has also criticised the Liverpool pitch, describing it as “absolutely abysmal” and “a serious injury risk”.

Last year, the Women’s World Cup in Canada was played on artificial turf, despite a legal challenge from leading players.